Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kathmandu with an aim to inject new momentum to regional bloc SAARC during its two-day summit beginning tomorrow as he said development of close relations with neighbours was a key priority for his government.
On his arrival here, Mr. Modi was accorded a warm welcome. He was given a guard of honour.
Before his departure, a statement from the PMO said Mr. Modi will be holding bilateral discussions with other South Asian Heads of State and Government on the margins of the SAARC Summit.
During the courses of the next three days, Mr Modi is scheduled to meet Nepal PM Sushil Koirala and other Nepali leaders on Tuesday itself.
“There has been significant progress in the implementation of the decisions taken during my visit to Nepal in August,” Mr. Modi said.
India and Nepal are to sign some agreements, including on energy and transport, in the presence of the two prime ministers.
Mr. Modi is visiting Nepal at a time when the political parties have been unable to reconcile their differences on some of the disputed issues in the new Constitution. The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have put forward a proposal on the contentious subjects – state restructuring, model of governance, electoral system and judiciary – which has been rejected by the main Opposition, the UCPN (Maoist) and the alliance of parties, including Madhes-based ones.
The deadline for promulgating the new Constitution is January 22 next year.
Meanwhile, SAARC foreign minister level meeting started on Tuesday. The meeting would consider the report submitted by SAARC Standing Committee, a body of foreign secretaries.
(With inputs from PTI)
